Traverse City Film Festival: The ninth annual Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF), founded by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, will welcome over 100 filmmakers and industry professionals as guests of the film festival this coming week, July 30 through August 4.

Paul Feig will be bringing his latest film “The Heat,” while accepting the TCFF Michigan Filmmaker Award. Elaine Stritch will be in person at the TCFF Centerpiece screening of “Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me,” and host an exclusive reception to follow. Michael Stuhlbarg, Brit Marling, Rob Epstein and Michael Apted will join TCFF in person to introduce special screenings of festival favorites. Liana Liberato will be in person to accept the TCFF Discovery Award and introduce TCFF films “Trust” and “Erased.”

According to Michael Moore, “Our final screening has been announced! I’m very excited to be showing ‘The Spectacular Now.’ It's the best romantic coming-of-age movie I've seen in years, and will easily go down as the "Say Anything" (John Cusak's 1989 breakout hit) of this decade. Yes, it's that good, and I'm so proud that we've been given the chance to host this premiere at OUR premiere!”

Moore will host the special screening of the film, starring Shailene Woodley and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, at the opening of TCFF's new year-round movie theater, Bijou by the Bay. Directly following the screening Moore and sponsor, Chef Mario Batali, will host the fundraiser of the year with food, drinks and special guests, right on Grand Traverse Bay. Tickets to this event are still available. Announced this morning, a lottery drawing of 50 tickets at just $25 apiece will take place tomorrow. To sign up for the drawing, patrons can email [email protected].

“I’m so excited to welcome the prolific and talented Elaine Stritch to Traverse City. She has had a truly remarkable life and, as you’ll see in the film, has been everywhere and done just about everything. It will be an honor to welcome her back to her home state of Michigan,” says Moore.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the TCFF Centerpiece Film, TCFF has added a reception to honor Ms. Stritch. Stritch, accompanied by her personal piano player, will entertain special invited guests and 80 lucky TCFF patrons into the night. Gourmet cuisine and drinks will be provided by premiere Asian restaurant Red Ginger. Tickets to this event are still available.

This year’s Michigan Filmmaker Award will be presented to Director of hit films “Bridesmaids,” and cult series “Freaks and Geeks,” Mount Clemens-native Paul Feig, who will be in person to accept and introduce a special screening of summer hit “The Heat,” starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.

Actor Michael Stuhlbarg, whose credits include “Boardwalk Empire,” “Lincoln,” and the Cohen brothers’ “A Serious Man,” will be introducing both the dark comedy “Seven Psychopaths,” and the Opening Night film, Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.” Additional screenings of both films have been announced due to overwhelming popularity.

Stuhlbarg joins a long list of talented and renowned filmmakers including Rob Epstein, who will be bringing both “Lovelace,” and “Battle for Amfar,” up-and-coming actress Liana Liberato, starring in two TCFF films and accepting the TCFF Discovery Award, Director Zal Batmangli and star Brit Marling (who recently appeared in “The Company You Keep,” currently playing at the number one rated State Theatre) to introduce their hit thriller “The East.”

Renowned British director Michael Aped will be in person with his groundbreaking “Up” documentary series. Beginning with “Seven Up!” each of the films will be screened for free at the Dutmers theatre. The latest installment, “56 Up,” will screen at the festival’s anchor venue, the State Theatre.

“We’ve never had a better list of filmmakers,” said Michael Moore, “So many filmmakers are eager to join us here in beautiful Northern Michigan, whether it’s because they’ve heard about our festival, our number one rated movie theater or the amazing audience of film lovers – everyone wants to come to TCFF!”

With more hidden gems this year than any before, TCFF is proud to host a number of World and North American premieres, as well as share smaller, unknown films that will surely go one to be this year’s “Waiting for Sugarman.”

The smuggled North Korean film “Propaganda” will have its North American premiere at TCFF, with the Director in person to discuss this shocking and mesmerizing look at the impact the West on the rest of the world.

Many filmmakers will be returning to the festival for a second or third year. Rebecca Reynolds and Jim Carpenter will be returning with their film, “Girl on the Train,” Carl Deal and Tia Lessin will be showing their latest film "Citizen Koch," and Bryn Mooser will be bringing his latest short "Rider and the Storm." Filmmakers Bob Byington and Mark Cousins will join industry professionals Ira Deutchman and Thom Powers as Moderators of Panels, Q&As and Cinema Salons. Cousins will also be introducing two of his own films to the eager TCFF audience.

Also returning are Traverse City Film Festival board members Terry George, John Robert Williams and Rod Birleson. Founders Michael Moore and John Robert Williams join filmmaker Rod Birleson and Academy Award-winner Terry George in welcoming the local, state-wide, national and international audience of film lovers to this years TCFF.

Tickets for newly announced films and events are on sale at traversecityfilmfest.org, 231-929-FILM and at the TCFF Box Office at 128 Union St. above 7 Monks Taproom in downtown Traverse City, MI.